NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
113,108 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Lexus IS 250 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2008 Lexus IS 250 Owner Comments

problem #13

Oct 162012

IS 250

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Electrical Issues started at approximately 30,000 miles. Random times of power windows not rolling down or back up. Random times of Radio controls not working. After recall of airbags was completed, the Navigation system started having Random issues with the touchscreen. Sometimes it would work and sometimes it didn't. Eventually the touchscreen on the Navigation quit working at all. When the door panels were replaced, the windows started working more consistently. The Air Conditioner stopped working one day. The next day after driving it back into the driveway, over the driveway bump, it started working. The entire electrical system seems like there are wires that make a connection, then maybe come loose just barely enough to no longer make a connection. And just a mechanic's hand brushing against something during a normal maintenance check up fixes it temporarily. Or hitting a bump in the road. Every issue is ELECTRICAL related. There are many other IS250 owners with the same issues all over public forums online. Many too that their Navigation no longer worked after few miles on the car. Could these electrical issues cause a fire" How do we know it can't" It's always a worry when I drive my car.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #12

Mar 192019

IS 250

  • miles
Takata recall. My car had the airbag recall but it seems like during the recall they didn't replace the airbag wiring harness, causing the airbag dash light.

- Marysville, WA, USA

problem #11

Apr 042018

IS 250

  • miles
Dashboard and door panels are sticky, engine seems like it will die out when I come to a stop. Sunroof doesn't open because controls don't work.

- Waianae, HI, USA

problem #10

Apr 252017

IS 250

  • 950,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Harness - failure of the airbag harness causing the SRS light to stay on. This is a major safety issue and very costly $3,00+. it also appears to be widespread affecting various manufacture years including my 2008 model IS250. I believe this warrants a review.

- Bethlehem, PA, USA

problem #9

Sep 012014

IS 250 6-cyl

  • miles
"takata recall" the second day I bought my car it has been giving me problems. I have had to replace my engine/motor not long after I purchased my car. I'm still having the same problems with my car and new motor. It runs hot and I have brought it to 6 different mechanic as well as to the Lexus dealership multiple times and I have had to pay out of pocket for a lot of things. I also went on Lexus.com and found out that my car is a lemon buy back and was never told by the dealership I bought it from or the Lexus dealership in baton rouge Louisiana that it was a lemon. I had to fund out on my own. It very wrong that I bought a car and not told my anyone how the car is a lemon.

- Jennings, LA, USA

problem #8

Jul 082016

IS 250

  • 123,000 miles
The SRS airbag light went off, needs a new sensor which Is around $1700. The airbags won't work unless the sensor Is replaced which Is a huge safety issue.

- Kennett Square, PA, USA

problem #7

Dec 122015

IS 250

  • 61,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car is a 2008 with only 61K miles on it. The airbag light came on and I took it into the dealer. They said there was an issue with a wiring "squib" and my entire airbag system was shut down. If I had gotten into an accident, not one airbag would have deployed. The dealer said to fix it will mean replacing the entire wiring harness at a cost of $2500. Per the dealer, this is nothing that happened over time or through wear and tear. Also, the dealer said by replacing the entire wiring harness, I was replacing items that were not malfunctioning as this was the direction per Lexus. I contacted Lexus and they said they will not cover anything. It was very alarming to hear that while the airbag light was on, I was driving around without airbags. The dealer was so concerned that after the initial diagnostic test, he strongly recommended that I service it now and not drive it off the lot due to safety reasons.

- Chesterfield, MO, USA

problem #6

Sep 292015

IS 250

  • miles
Nav led touch screen not working/ stopped working.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #5

Mar 012015

IS 250

  • 53,000 miles
It happened on two occasions. I was driving and decided to roll down my passenger window. I normally keep it closed. After a while, decided to close it and rolled up but it overshoot the window frame, that the glass almost fell off. I had to stopped and manually push it back in. I successfully rolled it up and kept it there for a week until my son rolled it down last March 1st,2015. It no longer will roll up. I took my car to palm beach Lexus on that same day. Apparently the plastic clip broke off and the entire window has to be replaced, for 600 usd. I have seen a lot of complaints online about this (mostly ES350), based on the number of complains this should be considered a defect and costumers shouldn't be paying for the replacement.

- Greenacres , FL, USA

problem #4

Jun 012013

IS 250 6-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
Over time, airbag wiring harness becomes loose and/or disconnected, causing airbag light to illuminate and disabling one or more airbags in the event of a crash. Lexus dealers confirm the problem but will not fix without costly payment......updated 12/03/15

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #3

Jun 202012

IS 250 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2 months after my warranty ended my touch screen went out. I talk with my service representative at northside Lexus and he told me unfortunately the only resolution was to replace it but it would cost 50% of the labor and parts. I told him this was a defective item due to the screen suddenly went out while I was starting the car. For a 30K vehicle, you would think that Toyota would own up to this issue and the other issue I complained on with the melting of the interior doors and dashboard. I thought the dealership since they had numerous complaints would be loyal to their customers would step in and say they would take care of it but silly me who thought there is still some loyalty in this world. My family has bought 6 new Lexus vehicles and all was happy until we slowly started seeing different issues arise. I guess Toyota and northside Lexus doesn't mind loosing loyal customers!

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #2

May 162014

IS 250

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Lexus Is 250. The contact stated the touch screen navigation system failed to operate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was unable to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage were 80,000.

- Valley Stream, NY, USA

problem #1

Sep 212013

IS 250

  • 93,400 miles
I brought my car in for service on 9/10 and had my brake booster and water pump replaced. I was out of town following that and did not drive my car much. On 9/21, I got into my car and the navigation screen was not working. It displays correctly and the backup camera works but it is unresponsive to my touch. I cannot adjust the air, radio, or navigation. I read many, many forums online of people having the same issue as me.

- Melbourne, FL, USA

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